Formed in 1986, Artifax Software originally specialised in software for artists’ managers called ARTIFAX (ARTi filoFAX), later renamed ArtifaxAgent. This was adopted by most of the leading artists’ managers in the UK and subsequently in Europe, the USA and the Far East.
Soon afterwards, development began on a new product for room booking and resource management for the Wigmore Hall in London and the Grieghallen in Norway. ShowRoom, now ArtifaxEvent, became accepted as the industry standard for performing arts centres, used by the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall, as well as many other concert halls worldwide. National museums, galleries, theatres, cathedrals, government and local authority buildings all rapidly adopted the software. Later, working in conjunction with the Edinburgh International Festival, ArtifaxEvent was expanded to cater for arts festivals.
We now have clients all over the world—from auditoria to zoos—using ArtifaxEvent and ArtifaxAgora to help their businesses thrive.
Artifax Software’s management team comprises:
Andy Wheeler (Managing Director)
James Taylor (Commercial Director)
Tim Leighton (Head of Operations)
Adam Pepper (Head of Products)
Minal Thakkar (Head of Software Development)
Russell Lawton (Head of Technical Services)
Michael Gray (Finance Manager)
Andy Wheeler
Managing Director
Having previously worked in theatre and IT, Andy joined Artifax in 2002. His expertise includes team management, personnel development, strategy, problem solving, project management, risk management, consultancy, software architecture and cloud infrastructure.
James Taylor
Commercial Director
Joining us from a global exhibition company, James uses his extensive events experience and technical know-how to build long-term client relationships — and, most importantly, makes sure those clients are getting the most from our technology. In his spare time, James enjoys working on and riding his motorcycles.
Adam Pepper
Head of Products
Adam’s expertise includes UI/UX design, Microsoft SQL and HTML. He’s taught dance, designed and managed websites for actors, and volunteered for ten years for (and been a trustee of) a charity providing support to people living with HIV.
Minal Thakkar
Head of Software Development
Minal has many years’ experience with diverse programming languages and has also lectured in computer engineering. She enjoys listening to Indian music, sketching, hand embroidery and travelling with her husband and son.
Tim Leighton
Head of Operations
Tim is a graduate of the Birmingham Conservatoire, where his specialist instrument was the viola. Prior to joining Artifax in 2008, Tim was Front of House & Marketing Manager at the Epsom Playhouse and previously worked front of house at Symphony Hall, Birmingham and the Barbican Centre in London.
Russell Lawton
Head of Technical Services
Russell is our resident AWS and VMWare expert. Married with one son, he plays guitar with a local rock band. He enjoys sailing and windsurfing (in warmer climes) and, to keep fit, plays tennis (with, he admits, more enthusiasm than skill!).
Michael Gray
Finance Manager
Michael joined from one of the Big 4 accounting firms, previously being employed in the Audit and Assurance function. Michael brings extensive knowledge in both UK accounting and US accounting standards. In addition to this Michael has previously performed audit work for a major theatre group within the UK.
Terry Salmon
Software Consultant
Experienced IT trainer and consultant Terry enjoys spending his recreation time with his wife and children. Their principal interests include film, cookery, theatre, music, and very occasional karaoke battling.
Jon Oakes
Managing Director (Asia-Pacific)
Jon migrated from the UK to Australia in 2003. His UK employment included 11 years at London’s Southbank Centre, starting in the Box Office and ending as Computer Services Manager. Married with one daughter, Jon celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary in 2015 by making a video for his wife featuring himself playing an inflatable guitar onstage at Perth Concert Hall.
Paul Durbin
Client Account Manager
Before coming to Artifax, Paul ran development events for a large national charity and had his own fire performance group. He plays drums and percussion with various London-based bands and is a keen boulderer, rock climber, traveller and photographer.
Anne Choe
Product Manager (North America)
Prior to joining JCA in 2011, Anne had a varied career in opera singing and production, venue management and professional basketball marketing. Anne is an avid reader and podcast listener, but also tries very hard to keep the family’s 4 goldfish alive (there used to be 5).
Max Newman
Technical Support Engineer
Max, an expert in SQL databases/reporting, splits his time between customer services and QA. A University of London music graduate, he has played at many great venues and worked as a performing arts centre technician.
Lesley Bolton
Office Manager
Lesley joined Artifax in March 1996 when we had the grand total of two employees! Prior to that she had her own art and design company. She plays bridge, has belonged to the same book club for 15 years and enjoys cooking, knitting and gardening.
James Powell
Senior Product Specialist (North America)
James joined Artifax in 2000 before moving to Philadelphia in 2011. He now implements ArtifaxEvent for North American clients. Unless you have a lot of time to kill, never ask him about music or why cricket is better than baseball.
Sujata Naik
Developer
Sujata started her career as a web designer in India and has an extensive skillset. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, watching Hindi movies and listening to old Hindi songs, yoga and reading about home remedies.
Martin Mcdonough
Technical Support Engineer
Martin has worked in R&D as an opto-electronics engineer, as an analyst for a MOD subcontractor and now supports all our Artifax products. He is an enthusiastic dog owner and can be seen strolling in the local woods and fields with his Irish setter, Pip.
Emily Lane
Client Services Manager (Asia-Pacific)
Emily is responsible for client support, custom reporting and training. Her background is in organisational training and human resources, having worked extensively in London and Perth. Prior to this Emily completed a Masters in Organisational Psychology. Emily has two young children, and most of all loves to spend her weekends with her family riding mountain bikes or surfing.
Jonathan Castro
Developer
Jonathan wrote his first computer programs using a Commodore PET and a BBC Micro. Before joining Artifax, he worked as a consulting engineer in the field of fluid flow modelling. He enjoys playing the piano, foreign travel and astronomy.
Elaine Roche
Administrative Assistant
Elaine is responsible for both office and finance administration. Her interests include travelling, the cinema and theatre (but only to sit in the audience, as her acting experience ended as the Tin Man in a Wizard of Oz production at school, circa 1979!).
Sarah Gillett
Product Specialist (North America)
Sarah spent a decade managing the use of Artifax at one of Canada’s largest multi-disciplinary arts centres before joining JCA in late 2016. Her happy place lies at the intersection of music, food and good company.
Tiffany Yew
Client Support (Asia-Pacific)
Tiffany is a Malaysian-born Chinese who studied Computer Science before working in Sales and Marketing in Malaysia. She has also worked with a broadcaster in Macau as a journalist and newscaster, and in Hong Kong in Marketing and Event Management. Tiffany speaks English, Malay, Cantonese and Mandarin. Her favourite pastimes are jogging and cooking.
Laura Christmas
Reports Developer
Laura is our lead reports developer. Before joining Artifax, she spent ten years working at a 600-seater multi-purpose venue in the West Midlands. She tried her hand at a variety of roles, including Front of House, Stage Manager and Technical Crew.
Paul Twynham
Business Development Manager
Having relocated from the North East of England, Paul joins us with over 17 years of venue, events and live music management experience. He enjoys new music, design, photography and travelling. As a father of two, most of his time is spent with his family trying to solve why the family Cockapoo won’t stop chewing everything at floor level. Answers anyone?
Amy Louden
Project Manager
Amy looks after Artifax’s existing clients. Before joining us, she spent 13 years working for a prominent Artist and Project Management agency as an Artist Manager and later as Head of Operations. Amy has a BA (Hons) in Music & English Literature. She enjoys time out with her husband and son, reading, going to concerts and to the cinema, and the occasional Zumba class.
Dr H
Developer
Coder, chemist and campanologist.
Vishnu Shanmugam
Lead QA Analyst
Vishnu gained a bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics from TamilNadu (India). She is responsible for ensuring that our products are developed with high quality. Outside of work, Vishnu enjoys spending time with her partner and daughter, reading and watching new Tamil films (would almost see all the movies without fail). Her other interests include Badminton, Yoga and travelling places.
Mehreen Rana
QA Analyst
Mehreen, who is passionate about technology, first joined us for work experience in 2013 and, having completed her computing degree (studying networking and web application components), is now back as a full-time employee. Outside of work, Mehreen enjoys watching films, photography and all things Harry Potter!
Meg Russell
Client Support (Asia-Pacific)
After completing her science degree, Meg worked in data analysis before following her father’s footsteps into cartography and GIS. Returning from a 3-year hiatus travelling Australia as tour manager for her partner’s band, Meg now provides report writing and support for the Asia-Pacific team. In her spare time she is likely to be holding either a power tool or a pair of drumsticks.
Guy Hiddleston
Professional Services Manager
Business finance graduate Guy is a PRINCE2® practitioner and, before joining Artifax, owned and managed two shops. In his spare time Guy enjoys walking or running in remote locations, sailing and snowboarding.
Jeremy Campbell
Software Consultant
Jeremy previously worked for newspapers as a sub editor and, briefly travelled around the UK and Europe as a tour manager in the theatre. Movies, music, cycling and books (old-fashioned paper ones) take up some of his spare time. He sometimes still daydreams of being England cricket captain.
Andrew Dunford
Developer
Andrew has degrees in music (performance cello) and computer science, and joined Artifax in 1997 following eight years in various management roles at Wigmore Hall in London. He’ll talk cricket to anyone who doesn’t run away fast enough.
Artifox
Company Mascot
Artifox is our roving ambassador. He joined Artifax in 2012, shortly after the unexpected (although possibly not to him) demise of his predecessor. Artifox enjoys meeting customers, travelling and photobombing (see his Instagram feed @artifox1).
Event planning, room booking and resource scheduling for venues and festivals worldwide since 1986
Worldwide sales and support for Artifax products
SEE OUR DISTRIBUTORSWe find ArtifaxEvent to be an excellent system. It easily helps us manage bookings for private hire events from the initial enquiry stage to the production of a final invoice. Over several years we have been able to build in new systems which have further improved our efficiency. The support staff are great - prompt to respond and always willing to assist. I couldn't do my job without it.
Tom Deller, Corporate Hospitality Manager, Bath’s Historic Buildings
Bath & North East Somerset Council
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